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COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS TO HOLD FORTIETH SESSION FROM 28 APRIL TO 16 MAY 2008 IN GENEVA
24 April 2008
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Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
24 April 2008
BACKGROUND RELEASE
Reports of France, Benin, Bolivia and India to be Considered
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will meet at the Palais Wilson in Geneva from 28 April to 16 May 2008 to examine measures taken by France, Benin, Bolivia and India to comply with the standards of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Those four countries are among the 157 States parties to the treaty, which entered into force in 1976 and which recognizes, among other things, the rights to work, to form and join trade unions, to social security, to the widest possible protection and assistance for the family, to an adequate standard of living, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, and to an education.
In adhering to the treaty, States agree to submit periodic reports to the Committee on how they give effect to the provisions of the Covenant. The Committee evaluates the reports and makes observations and recommendations on improving the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
At the opening of the session, the Committee will adopt its agenda and programme of work before discussing submission of reports by States parties. In the afternoon, the Committee will discuss relations with United Nations organs and other treaty bodies, and will also hear information from non-governmental organizations with respect to the reports that it will review during the current session.
On Friday, 9 May, the Committee will hold a day of general discussion on the right to take part in cultural life. The aim of the day is to foster a deeper understanding of the content and implications of article 15, paragraph 1 (a), of the Covenant.
Benin and Bolivia are presenting their second periodic reports; France is presenting its third periodic report; and India is presenting its combined second to fifth periodic reports. The Committee's conclusions and recommendations on the second periodic report of France, considered in November 2001, can be found in document E/C.12/1/Add.72. Its conclusions on the initial report of Benin, considered in May 2002, can be found in E/C.12/1/Add.78. Its conclusions on the initial report of Bolivia, reviewed in May 2001, are incorporated in document E/C.12/1/Add.50. And the Committee's conclusions on the initial report of India, considered in January 1990, are available in document E/1990/23 (paras. 212-234).
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The General Assembly adopted and opened the Covenant for signature, ratification and accession in 1966. It entered into force on 3 January 1976.
Article 1 of the Covenant states that the right to self-determination is universal, and calls upon States to promote the realization and respect of that right. Article 3 reaffirms the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all human rights and enjoins States to make that principle a reality. Article 5 provides safeguards against the destruction or undue limitation of any human right or fundamental freedom, and against misinterpretation of any provision of the Covenant as a means of justifying infringement of a right or freedom or its restriction to a greater extent than provided in the Covenant. It also prevents States from limiting rights already enjoyed within their territories on the ground that such rights are not recognized, or recognized to a lesser extent, in the Covenant.
Articles 6 to 15 recognize the right to work; to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work; to form and join trade unions; to social security, including social insurance; to the widest possible protection and assistance for the family, mothers, children and younger persons; to an adequate standard of living; to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; to an education and to take part in cultural life.
States Parties to the Covenant
The Covenant has been ratified or acceded to by 157 States: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The Committee is composed of the following Experts: Mohamed Ezzeldin Adel-Moneim (Egypt), Clement Atangana (Cameroon), Rocio Barahona Riera (Costa Rica), Virginia Bonoan-Dandan (Philippines), Chandrashekhar Dasgupta (India), Azzouz Kerdoun (Algeria), Yuri Kolosov (Russian Federation), Jaime Marchan Romero (Ecuador), Sergei Martynov (Belarus), Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay (Mauritius), Eibe Riedel (Germany), Andrzej Rzeplinski (Poland), Walid M. Sa'di (Jordan), Philippe Texier (France), Alvaro Tirado Mejia (Colombia), Barbara Elaine Wilson (Switzerland), and Daode Zhan (China).
Mr. Texier is the Chairperson; Ms. Barahona Riera, Mr. Pillay and Mr. Sa'di are the Vice Chairpersons; and Mr. Rzeplinski is the Rapporteur.
Provisional Timetable for Consideration of Reports
The main documents before the Committee in respect of these countries is accessible from the OHCHR website ( http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/cescrs40.htm), including the reports submitted by the States parties, lists of questions posed by the Committee in respect of those reports, previous concluding observations issued by the Committee on State reports, and supplementary information submitted by non-governmental organizations At the end of the session, the concluding observations of the Committee on each State party will also be accessible in advanced unedited form from this site
Tuesday, 29 April
Morning: France, third periodic report (E/C.12/FRA/3)
Afternoon: France (continued)
Wednesday, 30 April
Morning: France (continued)
Monday, 5 May
Morning: Benin, second periodic report (E/C.12/BEN/2)
Afternoon: Benin (continued)
Tuesday, 6 May
Morning: Bolivia, second periodic report (E/C.12/BOL/2)
Afternoon: Bolivia (continued)
Wednesday, 7 May
Morning: Bolivia (continued)
Afternoon: India, second to fifth periodic reports (E/C.12/IND/5)
Thursday, 8 May
Morning: India (continued)
Afternoon: India (continued)
Friday, 16 May
Afternoon: Release of Concluding Observations and close of session
____________
For use of the information media; not an official record
24 April 2008
BACKGROUND RELEASE
Reports of France, Benin, Bolivia and India to be Considered
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will meet at the Palais Wilson in Geneva from 28 April to 16 May 2008 to examine measures taken by France, Benin, Bolivia and India to comply with the standards of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Those four countries are among the 157 States parties to the treaty, which entered into force in 1976 and which recognizes, among other things, the rights to work, to form and join trade unions, to social security, to the widest possible protection and assistance for the family, to an adequate standard of living, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, and to an education.
In adhering to the treaty, States agree to submit periodic reports to the Committee on how they give effect to the provisions of the Covenant. The Committee evaluates the reports and makes observations and recommendations on improving the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
At the opening of the session, the Committee will adopt its agenda and programme of work before discussing submission of reports by States parties. In the afternoon, the Committee will discuss relations with United Nations organs and other treaty bodies, and will also hear information from non-governmental organizations with respect to the reports that it will review during the current session.
On Friday, 9 May, the Committee will hold a day of general discussion on the right to take part in cultural life. The aim of the day is to foster a deeper understanding of the content and implications of article 15, paragraph 1 (a), of the Covenant.
Benin and Bolivia are presenting their second periodic reports; France is presenting its third periodic report; and India is presenting its combined second to fifth periodic reports. The Committee's conclusions and recommendations on the second periodic report of France, considered in November 2001, can be found in document E/C.12/1/Add.72. Its conclusions on the initial report of Benin, considered in May 2002, can be found in E/C.12/1/Add.78. Its conclusions on the initial report of Bolivia, reviewed in May 2001, are incorporated in document E/C.12/1/Add.50. And the Committee's conclusions on the initial report of India, considered in January 1990, are available in document E/1990/23 (paras. 212-234).
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The General Assembly adopted and opened the Covenant for signature, ratification and accession in 1966. It entered into force on 3 January 1976.
Article 1 of the Covenant states that the right to self-determination is universal, and calls upon States to promote the realization and respect of that right. Article 3 reaffirms the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all human rights and enjoins States to make that principle a reality. Article 5 provides safeguards against the destruction or undue limitation of any human right or fundamental freedom, and against misinterpretation of any provision of the Covenant as a means of justifying infringement of a right or freedom or its restriction to a greater extent than provided in the Covenant. It also prevents States from limiting rights already enjoyed within their territories on the ground that such rights are not recognized, or recognized to a lesser extent, in the Covenant.
Articles 6 to 15 recognize the right to work; to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work; to form and join trade unions; to social security, including social insurance; to the widest possible protection and assistance for the family, mothers, children and younger persons; to an adequate standard of living; to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; to an education and to take part in cultural life.
States Parties to the Covenant
The Covenant has been ratified or acceded to by 157 States: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The Committee is composed of the following Experts: Mohamed Ezzeldin Adel-Moneim (Egypt), Clement Atangana (Cameroon), Rocio Barahona Riera (Costa Rica), Virginia Bonoan-Dandan (Philippines), Chandrashekhar Dasgupta (India), Azzouz Kerdoun (Algeria), Yuri Kolosov (Russian Federation), Jaime Marchan Romero (Ecuador), Sergei Martynov (Belarus), Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay (Mauritius), Eibe Riedel (Germany), Andrzej Rzeplinski (Poland), Walid M. Sa'di (Jordan), Philippe Texier (France), Alvaro Tirado Mejia (Colombia), Barbara Elaine Wilson (Switzerland), and Daode Zhan (China).
Mr. Texier is the Chairperson; Ms. Barahona Riera, Mr. Pillay and Mr. Sa'di are the Vice Chairpersons; and Mr. Rzeplinski is the Rapporteur.
Provisional Timetable for Consideration of Reports
The main documents before the Committee in respect of these countries is accessible from the OHCHR website ( http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/cescrs40.htm), including the reports submitted by the States parties, lists of questions posed by the Committee in respect of those reports, previous concluding observations issued by the Committee on State reports, and supplementary information submitted by non-governmental organizations At the end of the session, the concluding observations of the Committee on each State party will also be accessible in advanced unedited form from this site
Tuesday, 29 April
Morning: France, third periodic report (E/C.12/FRA/3)
Afternoon: France (continued)
Wednesday, 30 April
Morning: France (continued)
Monday, 5 May
Morning: Benin, second periodic report (E/C.12/BEN/2)
Afternoon: Benin (continued)
Tuesday, 6 May
Morning: Bolivia, second periodic report (E/C.12/BOL/2)
Afternoon: Bolivia (continued)
Wednesday, 7 May
Morning: Bolivia (continued)
Afternoon: India, second to fifth periodic reports (E/C.12/IND/5)
Thursday, 8 May
Morning: India (continued)
Afternoon: India (continued)
Friday, 16 May
Afternoon: Release of Concluding Observations and close of session
____________
For use of the information media; not an official record
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